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A group of individuals from Pella have come together to form a coalition with the objective of increasing awareness of drug and alcohol use among area teens.

Tricia Van Zee tells KNIA/KRLS News the Pella Youth Coalition is a partnership consisting of parents, the Pella Police Department, students and staff from both Pella Community and Pella Christian Schools, and community resource groups.

“It’s going to take the entire community to be a part of this and we want to ensure that regardless of where you’re at and why you’re feeling connected to this–there’s no shame, there’s no blame, we need to break through the silence,” she says. “We realize that risky behavior choices happen in isolation and in silence, our ‘Dutch fronts’ have a tendency to cause us to be silent and maintain an image.”

“We know there is no single solution, and this is a journey with no end.”

All concerned residents are invited to the Pella Youth Coalition kick-off event on Wednesday, August 1st from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Vermeer Global Pavilion. Van Zee says the event includes discussions with local EMS personnel and parents, community resource information, and how to proceed in helping curb drug use in the community.

Hear more about the Pella Youth Coalition on today’s Let’s Talk Pella .